Wire fence



UNITED sTATEs IlgTENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MERIWETHER, OF NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS.

WIRE FENCE.

. Specification of Letters Patent No. 10,211, dated November 8, 1853.

To all wimmz'lf may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM II. MERI- wnTrInR, of New Braunfels, in the county of Comal and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction o-f `Wire Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description o-f the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is an elevation of the fence with wooden posts. Fig. 2 an elevation with cast iro-n posts. Fig. 3 is a side view of the spike by which the wire is att-ached. Fig. et is a view showing the manner of fastening the wire. Fig. 5 is a side view of wrought iron spike for fastening wire.

Similar letters in the several gures refer to the same part.

The nature of my invention consists in making the fence stiffer and more readily seen by cattle by having one rail of wood about three or four feet from the ground, next below the top wire, so that small cattle will not readily attempt to run under, nor large cattle to jump over it; also in fastening the wire to the posts by nails or spikes with eyes in their large ends, and preventing the slipping of the wire by driving a small nail or iron wedge in the eye of the spike, between the wire and the post; and further, in giving the wire an undulat` ing or zigzag form, for the purpose of renA dering it elastic and capable of receiving external pressure without injury, and of bearing the action of cold and heat without damage to the fence.

In the drawings A A are the wooden posts, B the cast iron ones, C the wire, and D the wooden rails. The wire C is secured in the eyes a of the spikes b by the wedges c as seen in Fig. 4. In the case of cast iron posts the spikes are inserted in the mold previous to casting, and the lower extremities of the posts, cast sharp for driving in the gro-und, as seen in Fig. 2. The wire to which I give an undulating or zigzag form by means of suitable machinery, is secured to each of the posts by means of the wedges 0,' which when wooden posts are used are inserted between the post and the wire, s0 that the moisture of the post is prevented from rusting the wire. About three or four feet from the ground and next below the top wire are' the wooden rails D, which in the case of wooden posts are fastened by nails as seen in Fig. 1. Iith the iron posts the rails D are slipped over their heads, holes being made in the upper portion of the posts for the insertion of the top wire which is keyed in the posts as in the spikes of the lower wires.

The undulating cr zigzag form of the wire renders it a spring, similar to a` spiral spring, and when tightly stretched makes the panels of the fence sufciently elastic to yield to accidental pressure, and on the removal of pressure to regain its original position. This pressure may arise from wind, heat, cold, animals and various circumstances of continual occurrence, which when the wires are stretched in the ordinary way are liable to cause serious damage to the fence. The wooden rail renders the fence stif and serves to define its position to cattle, when from distance the wire is invisible.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The employment of the undulating or zigzag wire for fencing substantially as herein described, which by its elasticity increases the durability and effectiveness of the fence as herein specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name before two subscribing witnesses.

W. I-I. MERIWETHER.

Witnesses:

GEO. PA'r'rnN, WM. L. P. ELLERT. 

